Velocipede



I (MOdGL) 2 Sheath-Sheet 2.

s. N. SILVER* VBLOGIPBDE.

No. 267,607. 'Pqtentgi Nov. 14, 1882.-

[IULIIIII III ATTQRNBYS.

llaman STATES Arena trice.

SAMUEL N. SILVER, OF AUBURN, MAINE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,607, dated November14, 1882.

Application filed April 6, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. SILVER, ot'Auburn, in the county ot' Androscoggiu and State of Maine, have inventeda new and lmproved Velocipede, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved velocipedewhich can be propelled easily, and in which the power of the impetus ofthe velocipede in going down hill can be stored and utilized at theproper time.

rlhe invention consists in a velocipede constructed with a series ofclutch-boxes and ratchets on the axle, which clutch-boxes are connectedby means of suitable connectingrods with treadles or'with pivoted leversconnected with suitable tension-springs, which levers can be operated bymeans of clutchtreadles to stretch the springs, which levers arereleased from the treadles when the springs are stretched, upon whichthese springs contract and draw downward or rotate the clutchboxes,thereby driving the vehicle forward.

The invention further consists in power-accumulating springs mounted ona shaft on the frame of the velocipede, which springs can be connectedwith the driving-axle in such a manner that they will be coiled when thevelocipede runs down hill, and when the velocipede comes to a level orup grade these springs can be so connected with the axle as to assist inpropelling the velocipede.

The invention also consists in two springs attached to thevelocipede-platform and connected at the upper ends by a band or beltwhich the driver passes over his shoulders to increase the pressure onthe treadles without increasing the load, all as will be fully describedand set forth hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation 'of my improved velocipede, showingone of the driving-wheels removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved velocipedeonthe line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the under side of myimproved velociped'e. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevation of one of theclutch- (Model.)

tudinal side elevatism at' the ban'llbrake ou the.

shaft. Fig. 7 is u plan viewoli` the gearing for connecting theaceumniator-spriig with the shaft. Fig. b is a longitudinal elevation ofa modilied construction oi" the treadle.

The driving-shaft A is journaled in the hubs A ot' the driving-wheelswhich hubs are provided at the inner ends with two oppositeclutch-teeth, a., and a collar. b, and a pinion, C, mounted ou the endsot' the shaft A, which collar and pinion are provided with clutchteetha' projecting from the outer ends thereof, which teeth a' are adapted toengage with the teeth a, of the hubs A'. Freni this axle or shaft A thefront end of the platform B' is suspended by means of suspension-framesB2. The rear end of the platform B' is supported by a steering-wheel,C', journaled in a fork, C2, pivoted to the under side of the platformB', and provided with an angular projection, b', to which a rod, d, ispivoted, the other end of which is pivoted to an angular arm, d', at thelower end ot' a vertical steering-rod, D, journaled in the platform Band in the top ot' a cross-frame, D', secured on the supporting'- framesB2, which rod D is provided at its upper end with a transverse handle,DZ.

Below the shaft A a short standard, A2, is secured ou the platform, andto this standard two elbow-treadles or foot-levers, E, are pivoted,which are provided at the swinging ends with foot-rests E'.

To the lower end or arm of each elbowtreadle E an arm or link-piece, F,is pivoted, which is provided with a longitudinal curved slot, e,provided at the free end ot' the piece F with a recess, e', extendingupward from the slot e. At the pivoted end the slotted pivoted arm F isprovided with a cam-projection,f,v

projecting beyond the end of the arm of the elbow-treadle, against whichthe end of this cam-projectionfis adapted to rest, the upper end of thiscam-projectionfbging widened.

Elbow or bell-crank levers G are pivoted to short standards G' on thefront end of the platform B', which levers G are provided at the loweror rear ends with studs g passing through the slots e of the pivotedarms or link-pieces F.

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Powerful spiral or other springs H are attached to the front end of theunder side of the platform B and to the lower or rear ends of the leversG, these springs passing along to the under side of the platform B.Springs H are attached to the top of the platform B and to hooks g onthe lower ends of thelevers G, which springs pass along the uppersurface of the platform B. Springs I are attached to the pivoted slottedarms or link-pieces F and to the platform B.

To the front or upper ends of the levers G connecting-rods J arepivoted, which have their upper ends pivoted to arms I of clutchboxesJ', loosely mounted on the shaft A, the arms I of these clutch-boxesprojecting toward the front of the vehicle. The clutchboxes J surroundratchet-wheels J2, rigidly mounted on the shaft A, and these clutchboxescontain a series of pivoted parvis, h, pressed against the ratchetwheels J2 by springs it attached to the pawls. Thecollar b is surroundedby a brake-band, 7`, having its ends secured to a lever, r, pivoted toone of the frames 2.

A shaft, K, is journaled in the front struts or bars of the frames B2,and one or more spiral springs, L, are mounted on this shaft, whichsprings have one end secured to the shaft K, and the other end securedto the frame of the vehicle. A cog wheel, M, is also rigidly mounted onone end of the shaft K. A bent forked frame, N, is attached to the upperend of a swinging arm, O, pivoted to and projecting upward from that endof the shaft A on which thecog-wheel M is mounted, the upwardly-bentfront end N of the frame N passing through thelongitudinal slot Zinaguide-frame, l), projecting toward the front from one of the frames B2,which guideframe is provided with notches or recesses m in the sides ofthe slot, at the ends and middle of this guide-fraine.

A sliding handle, Q, is held on the upper bent end N of the forked frameN by studs n passing through longitudinal slots a in this handle. ThishandleQis provided atthe lower end with one or two lugs, o, adapted tobe passed into the notches or recesses m in the guide-frame B. A pinion,B, of about double the width of the cog-wheel M, is pivoted in the frontend of the forked frame N, and a pinion, S, engaging with the pinion R,is pivoted in the rear end of the frame. This pinion S engages with onehalf the thickness of the pinion R, and the wheel M engages with theother half of the thickness of this pinion R. This pinion S is notadapted to engage 4with the cog-wheel M, but passes to the side of thesame. This pinion S is adapted to engage with the xed pinion Gon theshaft A. A pawl,T, is pivoted to a bracket, p, on the platforlnB, and ispressed against the teeth 0f the wheel M by a spring, q. A rod, r,pivoted to the arm O, extends through the bracket p, and its lower endcan be pressed down on the D pawl T.

may be used, the lower ends of the rods J being pivoted to thesetreadles, in which ease the springs H H', the levers G, and link-piecesF can be dispensed with.

Two springs, V, are attached to the platform B, and their upper ends areconnected by a belt or band, U. It' desired, a seat may be provided forthe operator.

The operation is as follows: The operator stands on the platform B andplaces his feet in the foot-rests E and presses them down, therebymoving thelower arms of the treadles and the link-pieces F toward thefront of the vehicle-that is, in the direction ofthe arrow s. The studsg are in the recesses e of the linkpieces F, and if the link-pieces aremoved in the direction of the arrow s the lower ends of levers Gr willhe moved in alike direction, and the upper or front ends ofthe levers Grwill he swung upward, thereby turning the arms Iand ratchet-boxes J inthe direction of the arrow t. By these movements of the treadles E thesprings H Hare stretched. When the treadles E have been completelylowered the lower shanks or arms of the treadles strike against thecam-projectionsf and turn the end of the link-pieces F upward, for ifthe cam projections f rest against the lower shanks of the treadles Ethey cannot turn at the joint, and necessarily the ends of thelink-pieces F must he raised by further depressing' the treadles. Byraising the front ends of the link-pieces the studs r/ will be moved outof the recesses e', and the springs H H will draw the lower ends of thelevers G in the inverse direction of the arrow s with great force,thereby drawing the upper ends of the levers Gr and the outer ends ofthe arms I downward, that is in the inverse direction of the arrow t.The pawls h catch on the teeth of the ratchetwheels J2 and rotate thesame in the inverse direction of the arrow t', whereby the vehicle willbe propelled forward in the direction ot' the arrow s. The treadles Eare depressed alternately, and the impetus of the vehicle carries itforward, while the treadles are heilig pulled upward or raised by thesprings I. lt the treadles are raised, the recesses c of the link-piecesF automatically pass over the studs g, so that these studs can pass intothe recesses to couple the link-pieces to the levers Gr. It' desired,the springs H and H may be coupled to the levers G, or the springs H maybe detached. If increased pressure on the treadles is required withoutincreasing the weight, the operator passes the strap U over theshoulders. The springs V pull downward and thus increase the pressure onthe treadles. As thc wheels B are mounted loosely on the shaft and areonly turned by the clutch-teeth, the vehicle can turn a corner withoutcausing slipping of one wheel while turning. 1t' desired, the treadlesE2 (shown in Fig. 8) can he used in the place ofthe treadles. 1n thatcase the arms I will be drawn downward by the treadles E2 direct. lf thevehicle runs down IOO IOS

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IIS

hill, the power obtained by the impetus and weight ofthe vehicle must beaccumulated to be used at a later period. For this purpose the handle Q,is raised to draw the lugs o of the handle Q out of the front endrecesses m of the guide-frame P, and the handle Q is moved tothe middleof the guide-frame P and locked in this position by lowering the lugs ointo the middle notches m. Thereby the pinion S is engaged with thepinion C on the shaft, and the pinion It is engaged with the cog-wheelM. rlhe wheels B rotate in inverse direction ofthe arrow t', and thecog-wheel M and shaft K will be rotated inthe direction of the arrow10", whereby the springs L will be coiled or wound on the shaft K, andthe power is accumulated in the springs. rEhe pawl locks the wheel M inposition and prevents uncoiling of the springs L. When the Vehiclearrives at a level again the forked frame N is brought back into itsoriginal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7.` When the vehicle arrivesat an upgrade, and the power accumulated or stored in the springs L isto bc utilized, the handle Q is moved to the rear end of the frame P andis locked in this position by the lugs o, which are passed into thenotches m at the rear end ofthe frame P. The pinion R then engages withthe cog-wheel M and with the pinion C, and the rod r is moved downwardsufficiently to press the spring-pawl T down ward and release the wheelM. The springs L uncoil and turn the shaft K and the cog' wheel M intheinverse direction of the arrow 10. rlhe pinion It is turned in thedirection of the arrow t,and the pinion C, the shaftA, and the wheels Bare turned in the inverse direction of the arrow tthatis, the vehicle ispropelled forward by the power of the springs L in addition to the powerproduced by the opera-tor.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patentl.v In a velocipede, the'combinatiomwith thedriving-shaft, of clutch-boxes on this shaft, bell-crank levers pivotedon the vehicle-platform, tractionsprings attached to these levers and tothe platform, and of treadles for stretching these springs,substantiallyas herein shown and described, and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a velocipede, the combination,with the driving-shaft, ofclutch-boxes on the same, bell-crank levers pivoted onvthevehicle-platform, which levers are connected with the clutch-boxes,traction-springs attached to these levers and to the platforms, treadlesfor stretching these springs, and devices for releasing the springs whenstretched, substantially as herein shown and described, and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the combination, with the driving-shaft, ofclutch-boxes on the same, bell-crank levers piv'oted on thevehicle-platform, con necting-rods for connecting them with theclutch-boxes, traetioirsprings attached to these levers and to theplatform, treadles for stretching these springs, devices for releasingthe springs when stretched, and springs for raising the treadles,substantially as herein 7o shown and described, and for the purpose setforth. l t

4. In a velociped e, the combination, with the driving-shaft A, of theclutch-boxes J on the shaft, the connecting-rods J, the levers G,provided with studs g, the treadles E, the longitudinally-slottedlink-pieces F, pivoted to the treadles E, and provided with recesses eat the ends of their slots e, and the springs H, attached to the leversGr and to the platform 8o B', substantially as herein shown anddescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a velocipede, the combination, with the driving-shaft A, providedwith the collar b and pinion C. having the clutch-teeth a', of the 85wheels B, loosely mounted on this shaft, and provided with clutch-teetha at the inner ends of the hubs, substantially as herein shown anddescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with a velocipede, of 9o the springs V,connectedbyabelt, substantially as herein shown and described, and for thepurpose of increasing the pressure on the treadles, substantially asherein shown and described, andl for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the shaft K, provided with the springs L andcog-wheel M and the pinion G on the aXle A, of an adjustable framecarrying intermediate gearing, substantially as herein shown anddescribed, roo whereby provision ismade for transmitting power from thecog-wheel to the pinion, or vice versa, as set forth.

8. The combination, with a velocipede, of the shaft K, thepoweraccumulating springs 105 L, the cog-wheel M, the pinion C on theshaft.

A, and the pinions It S in the movable frame N, substantially as hereinshown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with a velocipede, of 11o the shaft K, thepower-accumulating springs L, the cog-wheel M, the pinion C on the shaftA, and the pinions It S in a frame, N, attached to an arm pivoted on theshaft K, substantially as herein shown and described, and for thepurpose set forth.

l0. The combination, with a velocipede, of the shaft K, thepower-accumulating springs L, the cog-wheel M, the pinion G on the shaftA, the pinions It S in the adjustable frame N, 12o and the guide-frameP, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose setforth.

l1. The combination, with a velocipede, of the shaft K, thepower-accumulating springs L, the cog-wheel M, the pinion C on the shaftA, the pinions It S in the adjustable frame N, the guide-frame P,provided with notches m, and the sliding-handle Q, provided with lugs oat the lower end, substantially as herein 13o shown and described, andfor the purpose set forth.

1S'. The combination, with a veloeipede, of the shaft K, thepoweraecumnlating springs L, the pinion C, the pinions R S in the frameN, attached to the swingingnrin O, the springpawl T, and the rod r,pivoted to the erm 0, substantially as herein shown and described, andfor the purpose Set forth.

13. In :L veloeipede, the combination, with the trendles E,the levers G,provided with 1o studs g, the springs H, the rods J, and clutchboxes J'on the shnl'b A, of the link-pieces F, pivoted to the treadles E, :1ndprovided with longitudinal slots e and recesses e, and with earn-projeetions j', substantially as herein shown and described, and forthe purpose set I5 forth.

SAMUEL N. SILVER. Witnesses:

GEORGE C. WING, E. T. GILE.

